UK-based PPE manufacturer Polyco has provided biodegradable FSC-certified paper stems to supermarket chain Waitrose as an alternative to plastic-stemmed cotton buds, to help tackle pollution.
The cotton buds are reported to be used by millions of people to clean ears or apply make-up and are finally flushed away only to enter and pollute the marine ecosystem.
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Polyco household national account manager Karen Wigglesworth said: “Our client came to us with a concern and, together, we came up with a response. We have done this first project with Waitrose, but we are also talking to other retailers about doing something similar."
Waitrose plans to sell only paper-stemmed cotton buds from September, which will be equivalent to taking out approximately 21t of plastic from its health and beauty business.
Scotland-based environmental charity FIDRA has started the Cotton Bud Project to address the current environmental issue of plastic cotton bud stems in marine litter.
FIDRA research officer Clare Cavers said: "Polyco’s work on the development of an alternative stick has been of huge importance in making this significant step of Waitrose possible.
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By GlobalData"We hope that other companies will follow the lead of both Waitrose and Polyco in working towards reducing plastic in our seas.”
Image: Cotton buds. Photo: courtesy of shahram sharif / Wikipedia.
